Resident Return Visas, subclass 155 and 157
Resident Return Visa (subclass 155 and 157)
Navigating the migration process can feel overwhelming, but with MigrationBuro, you are never alone.
Australian permanent residents hold a visa that allows them to live and work in Australia indefinitely. But the travel facility on that visa has a separate expiry date: the travel facility typically allows re-entry for five years from the date the permanent visa was granted. After the travel facility expires, a permanent resident who leaves Australia cannot re-enter on their existing visa.
The Resident Return Visa (RRV) renews the travel facility. There are two pathways: a five-year RRV (subclass 155) for permanent residents who have spent at least two years in Australia in the last five years, and a one-year RRV (subclass 157) for permanent residents who have less than two years in Australia but can demonstrate substantial ties.
If your travel facility has expired and you are already offshore, you may no longer hold a permanent visa at all. Do not leave Australia without checking your travel facility expiry in VEVO.
WHICH RRV PATHWAY APPLIES
Pathway 1 (five-year RRV, subclass 155): two or more years of lawful presence in Australia in the last five years. Evidence is your movement records. Typically a straightforward application.
Pathway 2 (one-year RRV, subclass 157): less than two years in Australia in the last five years, but substantial ties to Australia. Evidence of business activity, employment offer, lease or purchase of property, or family circumstances. A stronger evidentiary submission is required.
If you are already offshore and your travel facility has expired: your permanent visa may have ceased. You may be a former permanent resident. The RRV may no longer be available. Get advice before making assumptions about your status.
HOW TO APPLY FOR A RESIDENT RETURN VISA
Step 1 Check your travel facility expiry on VEVO
Check your travel facility expiry on VEVO. Find the travel facility expiry on your visa grant letter or in VEVO (Visa Entitlement Verification Online). Do not rely on the visa grant date alone.
Step 2 Confirm which pathway applies
Confirm which pathway applies. Two years in Australia in the last five years qualifies for Pathway 1. Less than two years but at least one day, with substantial ties, may qualify for Pathway 2.
Step 3 Lodge the application before you travel
Lodge the application before you travel. Every family member needs a separate RRV application. Applications can be lodged onshore or offshore.
Step 4 Provide evidence
Provide evidence. Pathway 1 generally only requires movement records. Pathway 2 requires substantial ties documentation.
Step 5 Decision
Decision. Pathway 1 RRV applications are decided quickly. Pathway 2 cases require assessment of the substantial ties argument and may take longer.
Speak to a Migration agent
Call 1300 VISA OZ (1300 8472 69) to discuss employer sponsorship for your Brisbane business. Available Monday to Friday. Zoom consultations take 45-60 minutes and give you a clear answer on what is achievable.
Prefer to start in writing? Email info@migrationburo.com.au with the role title, the occupation, and the candidate's nationality and qualifications.
Your Australian Visa application
Some frequently asked questions
Answers to some questions we often hear from people in your situation.
What happens if my travel facility has already expired?
If you are onshore, your permanent visa continues but you cannot leave Australia without first obtaining an RRV. If you leave without one, your visa ceases on departure.
Can I apply for an RRV from outside Australia?
Yes. You can lodge offshore. However if your permanent visa has already ceased because the travel facility expired while you were offshore, you are no longer a permanent resident and an RRV may not be available.
What are "substantial ties" for the one-year RRV?
Business, cultural, employment, or personal ties to Australia: an employment offer, a lease or property, an active Australian business, or compelling personal circumstances. You are making a case, not ticking a box.
Is the subclass 159 still available?
No. The subclass 159 (Provisional Resident Return Visa) was removed from the Migration Regulations on 22 March 2025.
Does my family need separate RRV applications?
Yes. Every family member who holds a permanent visa needs their own RRV application. There are no secondary applicants.
Migration experience you can trust
MigrationBuro are your trusted migration agents in Brisbane. Founded and led by Andrew Heathcote, we specialise in Australian immigration services. With over 18 years of experience, Andrew is a registered migration agent (MARN) and a member of the Migration Institute of Australia, ensuring expert guidance through every step of the immigration process.
